Landscape Contracts Manager

Northampton Business Directory; Northampton; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading landscape services company in the United Kingdom seeks a Site Manager to oversee soft landscaping projects. The role involves managing daily operations, ensuring client satisfaction, and maintaining high standards of safety and financial performance. The ideal candidate will exhibit strong leadership qualities, excellent communication skills, and a proactive approach to managing staff and client relationships. A valid driving license is required along with a solid understanding of landscape installation and project management.

Benefits

Positive working environment

Opportunity for career progression

Training and development

Qualifications

• IT literate and able to use various software packages.
• Knowledge of the house builders market.
• Excellent customer liaison skills.
• Good soft landscape installation knowledge.
• Full driving licence required.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operations of soft landscape projects.
• Oversee installation of public open spaces.
• Maintain excellent client relationships as company ambassador.
• Monitor financial performance and ensure compliance with budget.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Customer Liaison

Problem-solving

Project Management

Tools

Microsoft Office

Project Management Software

Job description

Overview

We have an exciting opportunity to join one of the country’s largest landscape businesses.

As a Site Manager you will be responsible for managing the day‑to‑day running of soft landscape projects, delivering public open space areas to deadlines. You will have a very positive outlook, a calm approach to challenges, and a willingness to encourage, empower and lead your team to create an effective and happy working environment. Safety, contract performance, client relationships, financial performance and continuous improvement will be central to your role.

Responsibilities

Contract Performance & Delivery

• Manage the installations of public open spaces and all soft landscaping to specification and budget, meeting the customer's requirements and deadlines and exceeding expectations.
• Utilise best, most economic and effective work practices and identify opportunities for additional works.
• Proactively manage your team in all areas of delivery of our clients' sales areas.
• Manage and plan work schedules for staff in line with client deadlines.
• Identify areas of the contracts to improve performance.

Relationships

• Establish and maintain excellent client relationships and act as an ambassador for the company.
• Prepare for pre‑start and progress meetings with clients.
• Be approachable, responsive and minimise conflict for staff.
• Communicate effectively and confidently both one‑to‑one and in groups.
• Develop teamwork through effective communication and regular meetings.
• Maintain good knowledge of client and team requirements.

Customer / Client Care

• Create a positive impression with clients by presenting a professional and proactive attitude.
• Build strong, long‑term relationships to ensure repeat and follow‑on work.
• Actively seek out new business and assess prospective contracts, passing information to the Business Development team as requested.

People Management

• Manage the performance of all contract staff and assist in their development.
• Offer staff opportunities to discuss work, problems and aspirations, encouraging progression.
• Recruit and select all contract staff in accordance with company procedures.
• Handle employee relations issues with HR support within company policy.
• Create and manage a contract‑specific training plan and keep training records.
• Manage payroll input to ensure timely and accurate payment to staff.
• Adhere to HR processes and update the HR software system with starter/leave details.
• Ensure all pre‑employment and annual checks are completed as required by central functions.

Quality, Health & Safety

• Understand the law relating to Health & Safety and implement the company’s policy.
• Create, understand and implement risk assessments and COSHH.
• Operate within the company quality system and follow agreed procedures.
• Select the right machine for the purpose, ensure maintenance schedules, and enforce rigorous security of buildings, vehicles, machinery and material.
• Ensure staff behave professionally: wear correct corporate clothing, keep vehicles and machinery clean, maintain tidy sites.
• Keep asset records up to date.

Financial Management

• Operate within the company’s financial procedures.
• Monitor progress, review cost and expenditure to ensure programmes/budgets are met.
• Manage projects according to budget.
• Complete end‑of‑month financial performance sheets for submission to the General Manager.
• Track and resolve over‑expenditure and budget threats.

General

• Utilise IT across every facet of contract management.
• Display strong leadership, interpersonal and communication skills.
• Work effectively under pressure and thrive in a busy environment.
• Communicate with colleagues across the Group to share best practice and pool knowledge.
• Provide feedback and take an active part in cross‑Group initiatives and project teams.
• Constantly strive to improve and change to deliver high‑quality landscape projects.
• Ability to work to external works and landscape drawings and maintain good plant and soft landscape knowledge with a keen eye for improvement.

Key Performance Indicators

• Complete all operational activities to contract schedule.
• Keep all machinery and equipment breakdowns to a minimum by following company policies for defect reporting and service scheduling.
• Keep accidents and other H&S incidents to a minimum by implementing good working practices, training and adherence to company H&S policies.
• Secure additional sales per annum at the agreed margin from existing contracts.

What You Need

• IT literate and able to use various software packages.
• Knowledge of the house builders market.
• Excellent customer liaison skills.
• Good soft landscape installation knowledge.
• Great plant and seeding, landscape knowledge.
• A good understanding of commercial awareness.
• Ability to use landscape and scaled drawings.
• Full driving licence required.

Personal Qualities

• Self‑driven, resourceful leader with an enquiring mind and a ‘can‑do’ outlook.
• Confident communicator, able to work both autonomously and as part of a team.
• Professional, efficient, structured and organised.
• Logical and reasoning skills to identify strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions.
• Articulate and persuasive in conveying information effectively.
• High level of enthusiasm.
• Strong leadership and relationship‑building skills.
• Ability to plan ahead and manage time.
• Ability to manage when faced with numerous time‑sensitive deadlines.